April 10, 2013
LAS VEGAS - The 15th-ranked Arizona State University baseball team used an eight-run second inning to defeat UNLV, 11-3, on Wednesday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas.
Right fielder Trever Allen's three-run home run highlighted the second inning for the Sun Devils' (20-9-1) as they sent 13 batters to the plate and notched eight runs on nine hits to take a commanding 8-0 lead.
Freshman catcher RJ Ybarra made his first career start at catcher and went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, and Allen tied his career high with four RBI and hit his team-leading fifth home run.
Starting right-hander Zak Miller (2-0) earned his second win of the season after scattering seven hits across five innings. He gave up three runs in the second, but threw four scoreless frames and struck out two.
Miller retired the last two batters he faced in the fifth and a quartet of relievers finished off the final four innings to secure the win, including right-hander Josh McAlister, who struck out the final batter of the game.
Right-hander Alex Blackford replaced Miller in the bottom of the sixth and struck out the side in his only inning of work. Left-hander Matt Dunbar and right-hander Darin Gillies both retired the only three batters they faced in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, as the trio sat down nine straight Rebel batters.
Ybarra and left fielder Jake Peevyhouse each singled to start the second inning before Allen's homer cleared the bases. Both Ybarra and Allen recorded a pair of hits in the frame and four other Devils collected RBI in the frame.
The Rebels (22-10) countered in the bottom of the second with three two-out runs before Miller induced a flyout to right field to keep ASU ahead by five, 8-3.
Ybarra opened the seventh inning with a double and scored three batters later on a double-play groundout by designated hitter Nate Causey, and pinch hitter Rouric Bridgewater knocked a two-run single to right field in the ninth to help ASU stretch its lead, 11-3.
UNLV starting right-hander Bryan Bonnell (0-1) took the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Up Next:
The Sun Devils head to Los Angeles to play USC for a three-game series Friday-Sunday at Dedeaux Field. First pitch on Friday is at 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday's games are set for a 2 p.m. start. All three conference games can be heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 or through the All-Access player on thesundevils.com. Sunday's game will be televised nationally on ESPNU with Dari Nowkhah and Sun Devil alum Paul Lo Duca on the call, while Saturday's contest will be streamed live on www.Pac-12.com/live/usctrojans.
Game Notes:
Coach Esmay moved to 67-14-1 in non-conference games...ASU turned three double plays...ASU collected 11 hits in one inning against UNLV on May 29, 1988...Miller also collected the win in last season's game against UNLV on March 21...Rouric Bridgewater, Jordan Aboites, David Graybill, Cullen O'Dwyer and Johnny Sewald pinch hit in the ninth inning...Tucker Esmay took over for James McDonald at second base in the bottom of the ninth.
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